Hornwrack

It was a delightful clear day again! We did some gardening, and then set off for Morecambe. We had to collect an item from the Homebase, so we thought we would take advantage of the low tide and walk across the sands.
We have been invited to help lead a marine course in the spring and so need to become instant experts on the seashore! I found several seaweeds to identify, and also this Hornwrack, Flustra foliacea. This is not a seaweed and not a plant, but in fact is a form of animal life called a Bryozoan. It grows by budding from one cell and differentiates into cells that capture food, and others responsible for keeping the organism clean.
As it grows only in the summer it has growth rings which can be used to age it. It is supposed to smell of lemons when fresh!
They grow below the low tide line, so this one has been broken off and washed up on the shore.
Isn’t it amazing what you can find!